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Womens Rugby League

29 May 2021

York City Knights sign local England Sevens star

York City Knights sign local England Sevens star

York city Knights have sannounced the signing of Emma Hardy, and she will be available to play for her new side this weekend.

The 21-year-old will bolster their squad ahead of the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup Final and the remainder of the Betfred Women's Super League season.

Hardy represented the England rugby union sevens team and was part of the 2019 squad that finished second in a Women's World Series tournament in Kitakyushu, Japan.

The player also featured in England's U20s team and also captured the County Championship with Yorkshire in 2018.

While the majority of Hardy's career has been in rugby union, the player did also have a short spell in league, playing for Featherstone Rovers.

Speaking about her move to York, she said: "I'm pretty excited about it. I just wanted to give Rugby League a go. I played one season when I was 16 which was five years ago now - I don't think I gave it a fair go. With the union season finished I thought I'd give it a go in the summer and see how I go.

"I was born and raised in York. It's really nice being local and representing the hometown - it's extra special.

"I played junior rugby from the age of 6 in York. I started playing women's rugby when I was 16. I played for Castleford RUFC through all my junior years. Then I moved to Loughborough when I was 17 through collage and university. I had a year with England Sevens when I was 18."

York City Knights Ladies Director of Rugby, Lindsay Anfield, said: "Emma is a great addition to the squad. She can play anywhere in the back line and we look forward to working with her.

"Emma has a lot of experience playing rugby union and sevens. But she also has experience in rugby league and we're confident she will produce excellent performances throughout the season."

Pinnacle Conservation will proudly sponsor the new Knights signing.

Emma will make her debut this Sunday against Castleford Tigers, wearing the number 28 shirt, and could then go onto make an appearance in the Knights’ first-ever Women’s Challenge Cup Final on Saturday 5th June against St Helens.

The match will kick off at 11:15am and be broadcast LIVE on BBC Two.